Some of the most debated topics in contemporary Islam revolve around the notion of gender and women's rights. This course is a historical and topical survey of the role of women and gender in the Islamic faith tradition. The first half of the course will review the history of women in Islamic societies, while the second will address some of the most prominent issues in contemporary discourses. Topics will include marriage, divorce, veiling, segregation, leadership, Islamic feminism and hermeneutics.